I'm not bring up Patrick's costume cause I'm looking to pick on him...I truly think he could have better costumes, especially with two really nice programs...neither of them really complete the package. I liked his Take Five outfit and the one for POTO.

I'm not saying it because I wanted to defend Patrick. I have to say that Patrick's SP costume is one of the worst costumes in men's skating.

Originally Posted by Mrs. P

I'm not bring up Patrick's costume cause I'm looking to pick on him...I truly think he could have better costumes, especially with two really nice programs...neither of them really complete the package. I liked his Take Five outfit and the one for POTO.

To me, Patrick's La Boheme costume is the best costume ever from Patrick, much better than Take Five and POTO.

Because he was the only one on top I can think of, IMO, who has never had good costumes and good hair. Maybe Brian Joubert is another one. Any other skaters didn't stand out and gave me such impression.

Oh come on now, how can you possibly think that Dai does not have good hair.

Kozuka's skating skills and transitions are excellent. However, in terms of projection, connection with the audience, and range of facial expression to express the music, he could use some improvement. He could start by smiling a bit more, and he could take some tips from Daisuke Takahashi and Yuzuru Hanyu on how they use their whole body to interpret the music.

Patrick Chan, whether you find him boring or not, does have a wider range of facial expression than Kozuka. That's not subjective, you can look at how Patrick's expression changes when his program opens, or right when he begins his first step sequence or his later choreographed sequence.

I respect Kozuka, and I'd love to love him. But he has got to be more expressive in order to get higher PCS. Being a subtle, introverted skater is not enough. Jeremy Abbott is at heart rather an introverted skater, but he's found a way to push himself to express a range of music genres and I think he's succeeded. Kozuka's programs this season are fine, but I think they could have pushed him out of his safety zone more. I LOVE his Glee Ex that was done by Kurt Browning.

I do not think Hanyu is good at interpreting the music. I do not like his SP especially.
I have no idea what he is trying to show with that music. Sexiness? It makes me chuckle whenever I watch it.
He is still not in the same league as Takahasi in terms of interpreting music. But, he is still young,
so he may be able to develop this area.

I agree P Chan has more facial expression than before. If facial expression can add a couple of points
on PCS, Kozuka definitely should try.

Do people here on GS feel that since the CoP, the general quality of skating has gone down with everyone working so hard to maximize points? (With a few exceptions, of course.)

On the contrary, it has raised up the skating quality in my book. Probably it depends on what you call "the quality of skating". We used to see long and annoying glide for the preparation of a jump in 6.0. Now jumps are more integated into music by most skaters. Much more often, the jumps have become a part of expression for the music rather than an individual must-do element.

Do people here on GS feel that since the CoP, the general quality of skating has gone down with everyone working so hard to maximize points? (With a few exceptions, of course.)

I don't think the quality of skating has gone down in general and/or IN EVERY ASPECT since CoP, because a lot of skaters at least try to improve SS, try hard to correct their jump technique on Flutz/Lip/UR etc, so my full respect to them. However, if you allow me to complain a bit re figure skating for me these days, one of my complains is probably 'lack of personality'; in their competitive programs, and more precisely, skaters themselves. I don't know who to blame; ISU, judges or Mr. Speed but I surely want to see another Stephane Lambiel, another Jeffrey Buttle and of course another Alexeis (Urmy and Yagudin)!!!

(and that's why a lot of 'amateur' fans can't help but respect/amdire/root for veteran skaters who still competing while bandaged up with injuries, even though they may be too old to catch up to every rules changes/requirements under CoP, or may not get enough love from so-called 'professional' judges and their feds anymore, I would believe. Yes yes, I am one of these amateur/nostalgic/old fans.)

In my book, Adam, Daisuke and Kevin (Reynolds) are the best 3 skaters in the world right now...who can attract enough attention of fans/TV viewers..concerning hair style!

Seriously, I do not mind at all Dai would change his FS costume. At least he should get rid of that distracting GLOVES, I believe. I would love much simpler costume for Dai's I Pagliacci to highlight his beautiful body lines and movements, say, like the ones Artur in his SP or Menshov's in his LP at this particular competition.

True. I actually have been pitying him for sometime, the same way that I used to pity Evan, somehow. Who would want to share the fate of a boo-ed champions, quadless champions, trixel-less champions, etc. And I doubt that such medals will make anyone a millionaire.

Actually, I think this will be Chan's strategy for the Olympic season. ... Next year he will skate a simpler program, but concentrate on delivering the full tech content without major error.

Originally Posted by giulia95

is the three- 2A- philosophy seriously coming back for Olys ? ?

Haha. At least we have been warned in advance. No Vancouver surprises.

Then some people will complain again that the popularity of this sport is declining and blah-blah.

Originally Posted by Bluebonnet

Are you arguing that the results should go with the audience preferences?! After all, this is not a popularity contest! ... It's great that figure skating didn't take the vote from the audiences but from the experts

You are speaking with such disrespect and arrogance about the audience that I doubt that someone who paid for tickets, transportation, accomodation, and who felt the atmosphere of the live arena would ever share your view. Sofa specialists in front of free online streams pay nothing for this sport. Popularity directly means money. Strange that some people don't know that.

However, if you allow me to complain a bit re figure skating for me these days, one of my complains is probably 'lack of personality'; in their competitive programs, and more precisely, skaters themselves. I don't know who to blame; ISU, judges or Mr. Speed but I surely want to see another Stephane Lambiel, another Jeffrey Buttle and of course another Alexeis (Urmy and Yagudin)!!!

Well, Deedee, I'm sure your point is valid, and I know that many have shared your views. But please allow me to bring my opposite view. While I do very highly respect all the skaters you've mentioned above, I think they should belong into their eras, and should not be extracted and put into current one. We cannot extract Dick Button out from his era and compare him with Patrick Chan and the likes and say that Dick was not that great. That is just plainly wrong. I was Urmanov and Yagudin fan. They were great in their eras. But those eras were gone. In the current CoP era, I've found plenty of personalities. To name a few top ones: Daisuke Takahashi (Don't be surprised that I said so. I do believe it), Evgeni Plushenko, Jeremy Abbott, Brian Joubert, Patrick Chan, Florent Amodio, Yuzuru Hanyu... and more.

Originally Posted by let`s talk

You are speaking with such disrespect and arrogance about the audience...

I beg your pardon. I think that belittling the judges shows plainly about one's disrespect and arrogance.

Originally Posted by let`s talk
You are speaking with such disrespect and arrogance about the audience...

I beg your pardon. I think that belittling the judges shows plainly about one's disrespect and arrogance.

Totally agree with Bluebonnet's comment.

I do agree with the difference between online and live arena. When I used to watch online or on TV I enjoyed a number of skaters like Dai, Kozuka and many others. But, only when I saw Patrick Chan live and watched those magic feet in action did I realize where his superiority to other skaters on the circuit lies. Other skaters needed several pushes to get from one end of the arena - Patrick only needed two. His glide is unparalled IMO.

I am so excited to have on ice tickets for Celebration on Ice so I can really enjoy this aspect of Patrick along with Kurt, Buttle and Stojko.

I've never seen a competition live (but long too!) and can only imagine what skaters like Chan look like live. One thing I would just add here, though, is that even on tv or computer screen, when Chan takes the ice in the 6 minute warm up (or when they show practice videos where he is on the ice with others) just about everything he does really stands out above and beyond the others. He just looks like he is in command and his speed, edging, and control just jump off or out of the screen to me.

I'm really enjoying both his SP and LP this year and really give him kudos for having two new programs, something he is been reluctant to do in the past. That said, boy oh boy it seems the men are really 'gunning' for him - lot's of 'upped antes' this season. Unfortunately, I only read about this comp so can't comment more than that; but from what i'm reading, seems like an exciting season is under way.

In the current CoP era, I've found plenty of personalities. To name a few top ones: Daisuke Takahashi (Don't be surprised that I said so. I do believe it), Evgeni Plushenko, Jeremy Abbott, Brian Joubert, Patrick Chan, Florent Amodio, Yuzuru Hanyu... and more.

Thank you, blue! I'm not surprised, 'cause I know that you liked last season's Daisuke (except his hair style, costume and that finger ). And some fans like him as an expressive/emotional skater, while others don't like and call him 'over-the-top'.
I can perfectly understand it and I can live with the fact. Tastes differ among fans. And it may also change every season because each skater has different programs.
But I would rather categorize him, Evgeni and Brian as pre-CoP ea skaters who still competing, so that's why they win tons of my respect!

I agree with you on Jeremy, Patrick, Florent and Yuzuru! They do have personalities. And have strengths; e.g. ability to project any music, super blade works to perfectly go with the music, a natural-born dancer, passion to reach out to the audience. Just amaging, at least to me, that they were actually brought up under CoP!